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(No Model.)

M. J. OLEABY.

BRIDLE BIT. No. 274,648. v Patented Mar. 27, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. OLEARY, OF SPRINGVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,648, dated March27, 1883.

Application filed January 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL J. OLEARY, of Springville, in the county ofVentura and State of California, have invented a new and 5 ImprovedBridle-Bit, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention consists of a bit made in two parts and held together bysprings, to operate as one bit when the horse is in a gentle mood,

[ but which separate and operate as a double bit to open the mouth andgag the horse in a manner calculated to have a powerful sheet inchecking him up, as hereinafter fully described.

1 Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure l is a perspective view of a bridle with my improved bit appliedto a horse, and Fig.2 is a perspective view of the bitdetached.

The bit consists of the two parallel rods a, respectively connected tothe metal bars b, which range up along the checks of the horse 2 whenthe bit is in the mouth, and are pivoted together at c, where rings (1are attached for connection of the bit to the headstall e, which Ipropose to do by means of rubber or other springs, f. The nose-strap gis connected by rings h to hold one of the parts a of the bit againstthe upper jaw, and the reins t" are connected to rings j of the otherpair of bars to pull the other part it against the lower jaw for openingthe mouth. The springs f hold 5 the two parts of the bit together withsuffioient power to resist the pull of the reins when the horse drivesgently, but which will expand when the reins are pulled with the forcenecessary to :use when the animal becomes rest- 0 ive, thejoints c thenswinging downward on rings a as pivots and allowing the bit to open.

The bit is closed by the contraction of springs f whentbe stress on thereinsslackens. These springs f are designed to have the requisite powerto keep the bit closed for ordinary driving, and only allow it to openwhen the horse becomes restive.

The ordinary check-straps, m, may be connected to the rings h in theordinary way, and check-reins may be employed, if required. The 2,0 bitmay be used with driving or riding reins.

lrepresents a curb-strap attached to curbriu gs n, attached by an eye,o,to the pivots p, on which they are fastened bylap-rin gs d, to which theheadstall is connected. If it is desired to drive with a common straightbit, the reins may be connected to the curb-rings It, so that thebit-sections b shall always remain closed.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a bridle, of a bitconsisting of two rods, a, each connected to bars I), and the bars ofeach rod pivoted together at a, substantially as described. 6

2. The jointed bars I), having rods (1, and being connected to theheadstall e, nose-strap g, and reins 13, substantially as described.

3. The combination of springs f with the jointed bars 6 and rods a, saidjointed bars being connected to the bridle, and having the reinsconnected to them, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the springs f with the headstall e and the bit,consisting ot'jointed bars band rods a, substantially as described.

MICHAEL JOSEPH OLEARY.

Witnesses: I

J. K. Gems, G110. B. GRANDALL.

